Westport schools superintendent taking paid personal leave for rest of school year

Sunday

Oct 13, 2013 at 12:01 AMOct 13, 2013 at 1:00 PM

School Superintendent Carlos J. Colley will take a paid personal leave of absence for the rest of the school year for reasons that are not currently known.

School Committee member Michael Sullivan said he couldn’t say much because it was a “personnel matter.” He did say Colley’s “request for leave was not abrupt.” He said the issue had been ongoing.

Deborah Allard

School Superintendent Carlos J. Colley will take a paid personal leave of absence for the rest of the school year for reasons that are not currently known.

School Committee member Michael Sullivan said he couldn’t say much because it was a “personnel matter.” He did say Colley’s “request for leave was not abrupt.” He said the issue had been ongoing.

Last year, Colley applied for the superintendent position at the Freetown-Lakeville School District. In January 2013, he announced that he would drop out of the running and would continue to be “fully committed” to Westport schools.

Colley could not be reached on Saturday.

Colley has been superintendent in Westport since 2009. His previous position was assistant superintendent in Nantucket.

Colley’s last day in Westport was Friday.

His contract does not expire until 2015.

School Committee Chairman Antonio Viveiros told The Herald News that Colley was on a leave of absence and “that is all I can tell you now.”

School Committee Vice Chairwoman Michelle Duarte and member Carolina Africano also said they could not elaborate. Member Melissa Pacheco could not be reached.

Sullivan said the issue would be discussed in greater detail at the next School Committee meeting, planned for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Westport High School Meeting Room B.

According to the meeting agenda, the committee will discuss and approve the administrative structure for the schools, indicating the possibility of appointing an interim superintendent.